Associate Professor Kirsty Short

Primary Research Interest

Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and viral pandemics

About me

I completed my PhD in 2013 at the University of Melbourne investigating influenza virus-bacterial co-infections. In 2013 I was also awarded a prestigious NHMRC CJ Martin Early Career Fellowship to study severe influenza infections. The overseas portion of this work was performed in the Netherlands at the world-renowned Erasmus Medical Centre. At the end of 2015, I relocated to The University of Queensland to complete the remaining portion of my CJ Martin fellowship on influenza virus pathogenesis. In 2017/2018 I was awarded an ARC DECRA to start my own independent research groups at the University of Queensland’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.

My research on influenza and COVID-19 falls into the broader body of research investigating the role of host susceptibility factors (e.g. age, obesity, diabetes, chronic inflammation) on viral disease, pandemic preparedness and anti-viral immunity.

My work plays an important role in shaping public policy, with my work on pandemic preparedness being featured on Prevention Web (the UN’s cite for disaster risk reduction). Similarly, my work on the role of children in SARS-CoV-2 transmission has been picked up by numerous media outlets (>100 Altmetric Score) and helped influence policy regarding reopening schools during the COVID-19 outbreak (data used by Victorian and UK governments).

Consistent with my strong interest in public health, I participated as a member of the Group of Eight University panel advising the Australian government on their response to COVID-19. I also co-wrote the Rapid Research Information Forum “What are the determinants of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 and are there differences between sexes?” for the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Commonwealth Government. The impact of my work in pandemic preparedness is further reflected by  my work being cited >550 times in 2020 alone.

I also play an active role the public communication of science. Specifically, from 10 February, 2020 until 8 February, 2021, I was featured in more than 1,200 media articles and reached an audience of over 14 million, giving me an advertising value equivalency (AVE) of  around $30M.

Research Focus and Collaborations

My research group focuses on:

• understanding the role chronic medical conditions play in the severity of flu and COVID-19 infection;
• studying flu viruses in their natural avian hosts to learn why flu develops from a mild infection to a potentially deadly illness;
• studying new treatments for COVID-19 and severe flu;
• investigating the immune response to SARS-CoV-2;
• determining the role of children in the spread of SARS-CoV-2;
• developing new diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2;
• understanding the role of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and flu;
• understanding the cause of long COVID;
• studying the severity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in children; and
• developing webtools to facilitate decision making around COVID-19 vaccination.

Collaborations

Researchers

• Dr. Michelle Baker (Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Australia)
•  Prof. Phil Hansbro (Centenary Institute, Australia)
• A/Prof Corey Smith (QIMR, Australia)
• Prof Stephanie Gras (La Trobe University, Australia)
• Prof. Kirsten Spann (Queensland University of Technology, Australia)
• Dr Linda Gallo (The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Dr. Alice McGovern (The University of Melbourne, Australia)
• Dr. Siroon Bekkering (Radboud University, The Netherlands)
• Dr Carolien van de Sandt (The University of Melbourne, Australia)
• Prof. Katherine Kedzierska (The University of Melbourne, Australia)
• Prof Jihai Lu (Sun Yat Sen University, China)

Clinicians

• Dr Helen Barrett (Mater Research, Australia)
• Prof. John Frazer (Prince Charles Hospital, Australia)
• Prof. Peter Sly (UQCCR, Australia)
• A/Prof Asha Bowen (Telethon Kid’s Institute, Australia)
• Prof Dave Burgner (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia)
• Dr. Danielle Longmore (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia)
• Dr. Tobias Kollmann (Telethon Kid’s Institute, Australia)

Veterinarians

• Prof. Thijs Kuiken (Erasmus MC, The Netherlands)
• Dr. Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann (The University of Queensland, Australia)

Funded Projects

NHMRC Investigator Grants (2022 - 2026). Pandemic-proofing our future. Total value of grant: $1,370,120

Australian Eggs Limited (2021 - 2022). Protecting Australia's Poultry using genetic restoration. Total value of grant: $55,000

NHMRC IDEAS Grants (2021 - 2023). The immunological legacy of obesity on viral pathogenesis. Total value of grant: $652,275

ARC Discovery Projects (2021 - 2023). Aerosol glassy states promote global warming, airborne toxins and pathogens (led by Queensland University of Technology). Total value of grant: $350,100

MRFF COVID-19 Immunological Studies Grant (2021 - 2022). Defining SARS-CoV-2 immune maintenance in the Australian population (grant led by QIMR). Total value of grant: $237,710

NHMRC Project Grant (2019 - 2021). The role of glycaemic variability in influenza virus pathogenesis and immunity. Total value of grant: $551,325

NHMRC Project Grant (2019 - 2021). Neuro-immune cross talk in influenza virus pathogenesis. Total value of grant: $556,431

Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2019). Using comparative genomics to prevent avian influenza in poultry. Total value of grant: $22,000

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2018 - 2020). Bird flu in avian species: understanding the mechanisms of disease.Total value of grant: $365,058

Diabetes Australia Research Trust (2018). Preventing severe influenza in people with diabetes. Total value of grant: $65,252

Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2018). Natural resistance to avian influenza: a novel approach for improving biosecurity. Total value of grant: $21,960

NHMRC Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowship (2013 - 2017). NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (CJ Martin - Overseas Biomedical Fellowship): The role of inflammation in viral pathogenesis and exacerbations of asthma. Total value of grant: $386,810

Teaching Interests